Casting Kurt Russell as Peter Quill's father in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 was one heck of an inspired choice, but it's a choice that James Gunn didn't even think to make until Chris Pratt suggested it to him. While discussing the upcoming Marvel sequel with Empire, Gunn spoke about Russell's casting.
He was actually not in my head initially, but one day Chris suggested him, and I would have been really disappointed if he’d said no. Hey, if you have to cast anything, Kurt’s a pretty good way to go.
Peter Quill has been searching the universe for his father for quite some time, but their reunion won't be all sunshine and unicorn farts when he finally catches up with him in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. Chris Pratt told Empire that "you’re going to see these characters having to endure the realities of being in a family, you’re talking about a guy who’s been longing to know who his father is for a long time. He’ll discover if that person lives up to the expectations he has in his head.” Given that his father winds up being Ego, the "ancient cosmic being who has been on the edges of the universe for aeons by himself” who is also known as The Living Planet, it's probably safe to say that Quill's expectations will come up a little short. Those of you hoping that we'll catch a glimpse of Ego in his planet form will be disappointed as James Gunn says that that's something we won't get to see in the sequel.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 will hit theaters on May 5, 2017.